新墨西哥州圣塔菲-经过六年的组织努力，工人和倡导者们庆祝州长米歇尔-卢扬-格里森今天签署了《健康工作场所法》，使之成为法律。从2022年7月1日起，全州的工人每工作30小时就能累积一小时的带薪休假，每年最多可累积64小时。
带薪病假联盟感谢该法案的提案人，众议员安吉丽卡-鲁比奥、克里斯蒂娜-钱德勒。Angelica Rubio, Christine Chandler和Patricia Roybal Caballero以及Sens.米米-斯图尔特和琳达-洛佩兹是新墨西哥州工人的真正拥护者，并感谢州长米歇尔-卢扬-格里森的支持。
工人们多年来一直在为这项立法而奋斗，与立法者分享被迫带病上班或冒着失去工资的风险的个人故事。作为这些不懈努力的结果，带薪病假终于成为现实，并将使新墨西哥州的所有家庭和社区受益。这一重大胜利说明，立法者听取新墨西哥人的意见是多么关键，这些人储存杂货，照顾他人的孩子，收获和提供食物，并在整个大流行病期间维持我们的社区。新墨西哥州的工人们出现了，并发出了他们的声音。
本声明由以下人员签署。
- AARP NM
- 北马里亚纳州的 "行动与信仰社区"（CAFe）。
- 公民政策中心
- 监护和权利中心(El CENTRO de Iguald y Derechos)
- 社区活动
- 新墨西哥州平等组织
- 全国医院和卫生保健雇员工会1199NM区
- 新墨西哥州法律和贫困问题中心
- 新墨西哥州工作家庭党
- 新墨西哥州儿童之声
- OLÉ，魅力之乡的组织者
- 我们是一个统一的民族
- 美国联合食品工人协会1564分部
- 妇女粮食和农业网络
来自新墨西哥州各地工人和组织的声明。
Carissa Owen, Restaurant worker and NM CAFe leader, (Las Cruces, NM)
“Paid sick leave is long overdue for New Mexico workers. I have seen restaurants fund expansions, marketing, or new concept rollout instead of investments in their biggest assets: their trained and dedicated workforce. This legislation is necessary for the restaurant industry to take employee health seriously.”
Rosa del Carpio, Worker and El Centro de Igualdad y Derechos member, (Albuquerque, NM)
“I have been working in Albuquerque for almost 15 years without access to paid sick leave. I tested positive for Covid-19 after having to risk going to work to put food on the table. I was worried about getting tested in the first place for fear that a positive test result would force me to quarantine without any income in order to survive. What I feared most as a single mother was infecting my nine-year-old son. Thousands of workers around New Mexico find themselves in situations similar to mine. Having access to paid sick leave is not only a racial justice issue: it will save the lives of workers and families in our communities.”
Marshall Martinez, Director of Equality New Mexico (Albuquerque, NM)
“Paid sick leave is critical for LGBTQ New Mexicans. Queer and Trans people work hourly jobs disproportionately and already face extreme systemic barriers to healthcare. HB 20 helps with one of those barriers and will help provide LGBTQ New Mexicans the opportunity to be able to afford the time off to see our healthcare providers.”
Stephanie Welch, Director of Workers’ Rights at the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty (Albuquerque, NM)
“No one should have to choose between a paycheck and protecting their and their loved ones’ health. Yet half of New Mexicans who work for private employers have to do exactly that because their employer does not provide paid sick leave. This law will ensure that workers get this basic right. We thank the workers from across the state who spoke out and advocated to legislators, and who won this victory.”
Anamaria Dahle, NM Working Families Party member, (Albuquerque, NM)
“Earning paid sick leave will allow me to obtain treatment to heal my injuries inflicted by my ex-husband over a decade ago. I will also be able to keep up with my doctors’ appointments for my autoimmune disease. So often, single parents’ health is put on the back burner. Thank you for passing HB 20.”
Iman Andrade, OLÉ member, (Albuquerque, NM)
“For me, winning paid sick leave means a safer workplace for me and my coworkers. This means people can actually stay home if they have COVID and not spread it to others. Workers need paid sick leave regardless if there is a pandemic. We can keep people safe from spreading colds and flus, especially in the restaurant and grocery industry. Our workforce is going to be much safer and I am so excited that HB 20 has passed the Senate.”
Bellanira Lozano, Somos Un Pueblo Unido member, (Santa Fe, NM)
“I am a single mother of four children and a domestic worker who takes care of elderly people in Santa Fe. The pandemic hit my family hard. We all got sick and didn’t get paid. This law means families like mine won’t have to decide between getting paid or going to work sick. It’s a tremendous victory for New Mexico’s workers.”
Oriana Sandoval, CEO of Center for Civic Policy, (Albuquerque, NM)
“Today we celebrate the passage of House Bill 20–a statewide Paid Sick Leave program for New Mexico workers. This legislation sends a clear message that families shouldn’t have to worry about shattering their family budget and getting buried under healthcare costs because they can’t afford to lose a day’s pay. We look forward to Gov. Michelle Luján Grisham signing this bold policy into law to take a step forward in ensuring New Mexicans have access to every resource they need to overcome the current pandemic and regain their stability–ensuring the success of our children and future generations.”
James Jimenez, Executive Director of New Mexico Voices for Children (Albuquerque, NM)
“Paid sick leave has long been a missing piece of the child well-being puzzle in New Mexico, with about half of our workforce lacking this basic benefit. The COVID-19 crisis has made this need even more critical, as families have suffered with the health impacts and the loss of job security and wages. The passage of this bill is a watershed moment for kids in our state and will go far in ensuring New Mexico parents and their families have the opportunity to live healthy lives and continue to contribute to a strong recovery. We applaud the Legislature for boldly rising to the greatest challenge of our time to secure this long-needed policy that will benefit the health and economy of our state.”